Methods and systems for down-converting a signal using a complementary transistor structure
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A circuit that down-converts an input signal to a lower frequency output signal, comprising:
- a pulse generator that generates an energy transfer control signal comprised of a plurality of pulses, at least some of which have a variable pulse width;
an energy transfer module that uses the energy transfer control signal to under-sample the input signal at a sampling frequency that is equal to or less than twice the frequency of the input signal; and
an energy storage element to which energy is transferred from the input signal during each pulse, the lower frequency output signal being generated from the transferred energy.
1 Assignment
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting an electromagnetic (EM) signal by aliasing the EM signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods, systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving an EM signal and an aliasing signal having an aliasing rate. The EM signal is aliased according to the aliasing signal to down-convert the EM signal. The term aliasing, as used herein, refers to both down-converting an EM signal by under-sampling the EM signal at an aliasing rate, and down-converting an EM signal by transferring energy from the EM signal at the aliasing rate. In an embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is down-converted to a demodulated baseband information signal. In another embodiment, the EM signal is a frequency modulated (FM) signal, which is down-converted to a non-FM signal, such as a phase modulated (PM) signal or an amplitude modulated (AM) signal.
866 Citations
56 Claims
-
1. A circuit that down-converts an input signal to a lower frequency output signal, comprising:
-
a pulse generator that generates an energy transfer control signal comprised of a plurality of pulses, at least some of which have a variable pulse width; an energy transfer module that uses the energy transfer control signal to under-sample the input signal at a sampling frequency that is equal to or less than twice the frequency of the input signal; and an energy storage element to which energy is transferred from the input signal during each pulse, the lower frequency output signal being generated from the transferred energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
-
48. A circuit that down-converts an input signal to a lower frequency output signal, comprising:
-
a pulse generator that generates an energy transfer control signal comprised of a plurality of pulses, at least some of which have a variable pulse width, the variable width pulses allowing a variable amount of energy to be transferred over a specified period of time; an energy transfer module that uses the energy transfer control signal to under-sample the input signal at a sampling frequency that is equal to or less than twice the frequency of the input signal; and an energy storage element to which a variable amount of energy is transferred during each pulse according to the width of the pulse, the lower frequency output signal being generated from the energy transferred during the each pulse. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
-
-
54. A circuit that down-converts an input signal to a lower frequency output signal, comprising:
-
a pulse generator that generates an energy transfer control signal comprised of a plurality of pulses, at least some of which have a variable pulse width, each pulse allowing energy to be transferred according to one or more feedback parameters; an energy transfer module that uses the energy transfer control signal to under-sample the input signal at a sampling frequency that is equal to or less than twice the frequency of the input signal; an energy storage element to which a variable amount of energy is transferred during the pulses according to the width of each pulse, the lower frequency output signal being generated from the transferred energy; and a feedback path through which the energy transfer control signal is generated according to the one or more feedback parameters.
-
-
55. A method for down-converting an input signal to a lower frequency output signal, comprising:
-
generating an energy transfer control signal comprised of a plurality of pulses, at least some of which have a variable pulse width; using the energy transfer control signal to under-sample the input signal at a sampling frequency that is equal to or less than twice the frequency of the input signal; and transferring a variable amount of energy from the input signal to an energy storage element during each pulse according the width of each pulse, so that a lower frequency output signal is generated by the transferred energy.
-
-
56. A method for down-converting an input signal to a lower frequency output signal, comprising:
-
generating an energy transfer control signal comprised of a plurality of pulses, at least some of which have a variable pulse width, the variable width pulses allowing a variable amount of energy to be transferred according to one or more feedback parameters; using the energy transfer control signal to under-sample the input signal at a sampling frequency that is equal to or less than twice the frequency of the input signal; transferring a variable amount of energy to an energy storage element during each pulse according to the width of the pulse, the lower frequency output signal being generated from the transferred energy; and providing the lower frequency output signal as feedback to the pulse generator via a feedback path, such that the energy transfer control signal is generated according to the one or more feedback parameters.
-
Specification